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    Home » Recipes » Main Dish

    Pesto Turkey Sandwich

    Published: Mar 4, 2022 · Modified: Mar 27, 2023 by Kelsey Smith

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    Pesto turkey sandwich cross section with pesto, fresh mozzarella slices, tomato, and thick turkey slices. The sandwich has been grilled and is golden on top. Text at the top reads Pesto Turkey Sandwich.

    This grilled pesto turkey sandwich with fresh mozzarella, tomato, and sourdough bread is the ultimate turkey sandwich.

    This gourmet grilled cheese is a deli-quality recipe. Use thick, carved turkey breast or ultra-thin slices. Thick turkey can be sliced to order at the deli or purchased pre-packaged. Look for labels like "carved" or "carving board" in the lunch meat section.

    This is the perfect sandwich with vine-ripened tomatoes and summertime heirloom tomatoes. It's also a great way to use leftover turkey at Thanksgiving and Christmas.

    Serve with homemade potato chips, lemon pepper fries, or pasta salad.

    Love this turkey pesto sandwich recipe? For more delicious pesto recipes, try tuna pesto pasta or slow cooker pesto ranch chicken.

    This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Recipe Highlights

    • Fast: Make this recipe in 10-15 minutes.
    • Few ingredients: Only 6 ingredients (plus salt and pepper).
    • Easy to make: This recipe is perfect for all home cooks, even beginners.
    Pesto turkey sandwich cross section with pesto, fresh mozzarella slices, tomato, and thick turkey slices. The sandwich has been grilled and is golden on top.
    Jump to:
    • Recipe Highlights
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Substitutions
    • Other cooking methods
    • Top tip
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    Ingredients

    Pesto turkey sandwich ingredients: sourdough bread, thick sliced turkey, tomato slices, fresh mozzarella slices, pesto, and butter.
    • Sourdough bread: Sourdough is perfect for grilled cheese or any grilled sandwich. It is a healthier alternative to white bread.
    • Pesto: Prepared basil pesto is found in a jar on the pasta aisle or in a tub by the refrigerated pasta. Filippo Berio is a classic pesto with basil and parmesan. Note: pesto contains pine nuts, see substitutions below for alternatives.
    • Sliced turkey: Thick carved turkey or ultra-thin sliced turkey.
    • Fresh tomato: Look for any large, ripe red tomato. Also keep your eyes peeled for tomatoes labeled as beefsteak or heirloom.
    • Fresh mozzarella cheese: Fresh mozzarella can be found in the specialty cheese section of the grocery store. It is usually found in a ball or log shape, whole or sliced.
    • Butter: Salted or unsalted will do.
    • Salt and pepper: To taste.

    See the recipe card for quantities.

    Instructions

    On both slices of bread, spread pesto evenly to the insides.

    Two pieces of sourdough bread with pesto layered across the top.

    Top the pesto on one slice with turkey.

    Two pieces of sourdough bread with pesto layered across the top. One one slice of bread, thick slices of turkey are layered on top.

    Next, add the tomato. Salt and pepper the tomato to taste.

    Tip: Allow the tomato slices to sit on a paper towel for several minutes before preparing your sandwich to absorb excess water.

    Two pieces of sourdough bread with pesto layered across the top. One one slice of bread, thick slices of turkey are layered on top with tomato slices on top of the turkey. The tomato slices have been salted and peppered.

    Top the tomato with the fresh mozzarella slices.

    Two pieces of sourdough bread with pesto layered across the top. One one slice of bread, thick slices of turkey are layered on top with tomato slices on top of the turkey. Fresh mozzarella slices are on top.

    Close the sandwich and apply half of the butter to one side, spreading it evenly to the edges. Salted or unsalted butter will work well.

    Turkey pesto sandwich before toasting. The top of the sandwich is covered in a layer of butter.

    In a pan on medium heat, grill the sandwich buttered side down for 3-5 minutes or until golden. Butter the other side of the bread with the remaining butter before flipping and cook for another 3-5 minutes.

    Pesto turkey sandwich being grilled in a pan. The top has a coat of butter.

    Both sides will be golden.

    Pesto turkey sandwich being grilled in a pan. The sandwich has been flipped and the top is golden.

    Cut and serve immediately.

    Pesto turkey sandwich cross section with pesto, fresh mozzarella slices, tomato, and thick turkey slices. The sandwich has been grilled and is golden on top.

    Substitutions

    Customize this turkey pesto sandwich to make it your own:

    • Sourdough - try sliced brioche, rye bread, pumpernickel, Texas toast, or your favorite bread.
    • Meat - instead of deli turkey, try Thanksgiving turkey leftovers, chicken, or even leftover ham slices.
    • Pesto - You can use store-bought pesto, homemade pesto, or instead of traditional basil pesto, try vegan basil pesto, homemade nut-free pesto, or sun-dried tomato pesto.
    • Cheese - instead of fresh mozzarella, try shredded whole milk mozzarella, provolone, American, mild cheddar, shredded parmesan cheese, goat cheese, provolone cheese, or Havarti.
    • Tomato - roasted red peppers are a great substitute. If using a roasted red pepper, you can slice it thinly.
    • Butter - mayo is excellent for grilled sandwiches. Many prefer mayonnaise over butter for an even, golden brown color.

    Other cooking methods

    Try one of these alternative cooking methods:

    • Broil - To make grilled cheese in the oven, set it to broil and move the rack toward the top of the oven. Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray. Butter the sandwich and place it on the baking sheet butter side down. Butter the top of the sandwich and broil for about 3 minutes, watching the sandwich closely. Flip the sandwich before cooking for another 2-3 minutes.
    • Panini press - Make a turkey pesto panini. Add your buttered sandwich to a preheated panini press (medium heat). Butter the top of the sandwich and close the press, operating according to the manufacturer's instructions. Cook for 3-5 minutes for brown sides and melty cheese.
    • Air fryer - Add your butter sandwich to the air fryer basket. Butter the top of the sandwich and cook at 360°F for 3-5 minutes. Flip the sandwich and cook for another 3-5 minutes. For an air fryer convection oven with a sear plate, follow the same instructions.

    Top tip

    Adjust the ingredient quantities as needed to fit the size of your bread slices. This recipe was developed using large sourdough bread slices (pictured), but for smaller sandwich bread, less pesto, turkey tomato, mozzarella, and butter will be required.

    📖 Recipe

    Pesto turkey sandwich cross section with pesto, fresh mozzarella slices, tomato, and thick turkey slices. The sandwich has been grilled and is golden on top.
    Pin Recipe Save Recipe Saved! Email Print

    Pesto Turkey Sandwich

    This grilled pesto turkey sandwich with fresh mozzarella, tomato, and sourdough bread is the ultimate turkey sandwich.
    5 from 1 vote
    Recipe by: Kelsey Smith
    Prep time: 5 minutes minutes
    Cook time: 10 minutes minutes
    Total time: 15 minutes minutes
    Servings: 1 sandwich

    Equipment

    • Chef's knife
    • Large frying pan

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 2 slices sourdough bread
    • 2 tablespoons pesto
    • 2 ounces sliced turkey
    • 2 slices fresh tomato
    • 2 ounces fresh mozzarella sliced
    • 1-½ tablespoons salted butter
    • salt and pepper to taste

    Instructions
     

    • On both slices of bread, spread pesto evenly to the insides.
    • On one slice, layer the turkey, tomato (salt and pepper to taste), and mozzarella slices.
    • Close the sandwich and apply half of the butter to one side, spreading it evenly to the edges. In a pan on medium heat, grill the sandwich buttered side down for 3-5 minutes or until golden. Butter the other side of the bread using the remaining butter before flipping and cook for another 3-5 minutes.
    • Cut and serve.

    Video

    Notes

    Adjust the ingredient quantities as needed to fit the size of your bread slices. Mayo can be used in place of the butter to coat the sandwich before grilling.

    Alternative cooking methods

    Broil - To make it in the oven, set it to broil and move the rack toward the top of the oven. Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray. Butter the sandwich and place it on the baking sheet butter side down. Butter the top of the sandwich and broil for about 3 minutes, watching the sandwich closely. Flip the sandwich before cooking for another 2-3 minutes.
    Panini press - Add your buttered sandwich to a preheated panini press (medium heat. Butter the top of the sandwich and close the press, operating according to the manufacturer's instructions. Cook for 3-5 minutes.
    Air fryer - Add your butter sandwich to the air fryer basket. Butter the top of the sandwich and cook at 360°F for 3-5 minutes. Flip the sandwich and cook for another 3-5 minutes. For an air fryer convection oven with a sear plate, follow the same instructions.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 724kcalCarbohydrates: 35gProtein: 28gFat: 37gSaturated Fat: 17gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 95mgSodium: 1695mgPotassium: 337mgFiber: 2gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 1810IUVitamin C: 8mgCalcium: 360mgIron: 3mg
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: turkey
    Tried this recipe?Rate it to let me know how it was!

    If you enjoy this delicious sandwich, let me know what easy recipes you'd like to see next.

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    About Kelsey Smith

    I am a freelance content writer by day, mommy by night, and a blogger in between. I live in Knoxville, Tennessee with my husband, Xavier. When I'm not working, you might find me here, sharing comfort food recipes.

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    Kelsey Smith

    Hi, I'm Kelsey! I am a freelance content writer for college-level textbooks by day, mommy by night, and a blogger in between. I live in Knoxville, Tennessee with my husband, Xavier. When I'm not working, you might find me here, sharing easy comfort food recipes.

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